The Margate Creative Land Trust has announced its new executive director.
Annette Russell, who spent the last five years working in local government, will be joining the Trust in July.
The Creative Land Trust was the first project to receive government funding from the £22m Margate Town Deal with £6.9m approved for the scheme last year.
The aim is for the Trust to provide physical workspace at affordable rates for creative practitioners such as people working in design, music, publishing, architecture, film, gaming, crafts, visual arts, fashion, TV and radio, advertising, literature, computer games and the performing arts.
It will take on underused or empty properties through outright purchase of freehold properties or long leases, or through properties gifted or transferred to the Trust by public or private partners.
These will be used as affordable commercial space for creative industries and support services.
The Executive Director will lead a small team to help to identify opportunities for investment in land and property and oversee acquisitions and management of assets.
‘Unique experience’
Chair of the Board of Trustees, Paula Hirst, said: “The Margate Creative Land Trust Board is delighted that Annette is joining as our new Executive Director to lead the organisation. Annette has a unique combination of experience with her background in the creative industry, property delivery expertise, knowledge of the charitable sector, and having previously led a small organisation. With Annette joining the organisation in July, we look forward to ramping up our activity to deliver against our mission.”
‘Exciting’
Annette started her career in the independent magazine sector, before moving into the music industry to manage chart-topping acts and producers. She set up and ran east London’s B&B ‘Russell’s of Clapton’, catering to creative clientele from her previous working life. She then helped set up and was general manager of Green Rooms art-hotel, a joint venture with Haringey Council and the Mayor of London.
She said: “Margate is one of the most creative, exciting places in the UK right now. With the challenging economic climate, it’s even more essential that we support and develop the creative sector here, ensuring the wider community also benefit from the opportunity and investment it attracts.
“At Margate Creative Land Trust we will nurture existing and next generation makers and practitioners, in sustainable, fit for purpose space.”
The Trust says it will develop a thriving, resilient and innovative sector that will provide inclusive enterprise, employment and learning opportunities for people living and working in Margate and the surrounding areas.
Annette joins Community Engagement and Communications Manager, Eileen Hartney who most recently worked for the Institute of Cultural and Creative Industries at the University of Kent.
Eileen’s role is to engage with creative organisations and individuals in Margate and across Thanet.
Open call photo shoot
The Trust is currently asking for applications for an open call photoshoot. These will provide images for the charity’s website and will feature local creatives based in and around Margate.
The Trust will be commissioning Margate-based photographer Heather Tait to take the images.
Those who participate will receive the images of themselves for their own use, and a credit via a link to their website or social media page.
If you would like to take part, send a brief summary about yourself and your creative practice (500 words or less) and include any relevant links to images, your website if you have one, social media or photos of your work on display.
Send your application to [email protected]
Margate Creative Land Trust: https://margatecreativelandtrust.org/
Margate Town Deal
Margate was one of 101 places given the opportunity in 2019 to bid for funding of up to £25 million as part of the government’s £3.6 billion Towns Fund. The fund aims to support urban regeneration, skills development and improved connectivity by giving each place its own Town Deal.
The successful of the bid was announced as part of the Government’s Town Deal programme in the Chancellor’s Budget in March 2021.
